Skip links
Novus Foundations for Change
About
Creating Foundations for Change Our Story Our Practice Our People Our Locations Our Podcast Our Conferences Equality and Diversity Project and Service Delivery Partnerships
Adult Provision
New Directions Working in Partnership Tate Exchange
Youth Provision
New Directions Working in Partnership Custody to the Community Tate Liverpool
Novus Works
Novus Works Partner Employers Employer Charter
Careers
Let’s Work Together Teach With Novus
News & Case Studies

Contact Us

  • About Us
  • Adult Provision
  • Youth Provision
  • Partner With Us
  • Careers
  • News & Case Studies
  • Contact Us
  1. Homepage
  2. News
  3. Drama programme supports learners’ wellbeing

Drama programme supports learners’ wellbeing

Adult Provision


Thu 14 Jan 2021
Odd Arts logo

The Novus team and HMPPS colleagues at HMP Hindley partnered with Odd Arts on a unique drama programme that supported learners’ wellbeing and mental health during the pandemic.

Odd Arts deliver issue based creative programmes with vulnerable and excluded groups. Their projects use specialist applied theatre and creative arts to give people the skills, hope, voice and confidence to make positive change to their own lives.

Odd Arts secured funding to deliver a pilot project to support the wellbeing of people in prison in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Working in partnership with Novus and HMPPS colleagues at HMP Hindley, the team developed a new way of working to deliver their programmes in a Covid-safe way to align with the current restrictions and adjusted prison regime.

In person delivery was key, to keep to the core of the drama based programme and support the overarching theme, which was improving wellbeing. New sessions were devised to respond to the reduced numbers and to factor in the new parameters presented.

Two drama facilitators worked with one learner per session, using drama techniques to increase confidence, self-worth and sense of purpose, improve wellbeing, including coping mechanisms, build social skills and help reduce risk of self-harm, anxiety and stress.

Six learners took part in the programme, with all participants actively engaging and speaking openly about their personal wellbeing in the workshops.

Learners who took part in the project said:

My confidence has grown since getting into prison, especially doing drama. I didn’t interact with people before ‘cos of anxiety, I would just get into trouble. I’m more open to talking to people now. I wouldn’t have done this before.

“I’ve opened up so much; gone from why, wondering “what is this?” to feeling so much more confident, speaking up, chatting away. At first I was shaking like a leaf at the thought of ‘drama’, now I’m looking forward to every exercise. I don’t want it to end. I have told my mum all about it. I’m proud of myself. I have completed a prison application form to request more sessions, I want more sessions like this!”

Sarah Hartley, Novus Operational Lead for Creative Arts, Enrichment and Families, said:

"The programme is a great example of an alternative type of delivery that can be achieved, even in the current restrictions. The response from the men who took part has been fantastic and it has been rewarding to see first-hand the growth of each learner through their participation.”

Related Content

View All
A person is seated at a desk reading

News

Adult Provision

Library colleagues push to expand reach of English education at Novus

books stacked on their sides in a library

News

Adult Provision

Novus wins new contracts to deliver reading education in prison

Get in touch

Novus
Whitworth House
Ashton Old Road
Openshaw
Manchester
M11 2WH

Enquiries:

enquiries@novus.ac.uk
03333 222 888

Careers:

HRSharedServices@ltegroup.co.uk
0161 674 1363

Quick links

  • About Us
  • Adult Provision
  • Youth Provision
  • Novus Works
  • Careers
  • News & Case Studies
  • Contact Us
  • Colleague HUB

Social media

Twitter Linkedin Facebook Instagram

Novus is a trading name of
LTE Group.

Copyright © LTE Group 2023

SEARCH:

  • Sitemap Terms of use Group Policies Accessibility Data Protection FOI